Objective:
To propose an appropriate niche for IUPAC and the Committee on Chemistry
Education (CCE) in promoting public understanding of science.

Description:
Enhancing the public understanding of science in general and of chemistry
in particular is a key element of IUPAC's strategy. There are also a
large number of other organizations active in the field, so determining
the particular role IUPAC can and should play requires careful analysis.
The CCE subcommittee on the Public Understanding of Science Chemistry
is charged with providing public understanding through its work to improve
chemistry education. The subcommittee wishes to promote the development
of an overall IUPAC strategy and to play its own role within that strategy.

The project will have the following stages:

(1) A workshop for Task Group Members to prepare a preliminary report,
with recommendations, on effective public understanding of science initiatives
based upon a review of the literature. The workshop will be held over
three days in Edmonton in Canada May 2005.
Additional outcomes will be a plan for the wider workshop in stage 2
and advice to the organizers of the 19th ICCE (see stage 3).

(2) A special half day workshop within the Beijing IUPAC General Assembly
in August 2005 to consider the report from (1) above and to produce
a draft report to the IUPAC Bureau on the role for IUPAC in promoting
public understanding of science. Participants would be the Task Group,
CCE - including the Associate Members of IUPAC CCE representing the
scientific divisions of IUPAC, COCI, Chemrawn and others that the IUPAC
Executive Committee may nominate. The report will identify what further
work, if any, needs to be undertaken to develop an IUPAC whole consensus
on the role and strategy of IUPAC in public understanding of science.
It is expected that there would be consultation within IUPAC on the
draft report with feedback to the Task Group.

(3) A symposium within, and other contributions to, the 19th ICCE on
"Chemistry and Chemical Education for Humanity" in Korea in
August 2006. The workshops in (1) & (2) will inform the development
of the program which will stimulate further advice on IUPAC's role and
strategy.

(4) Task Group members will attend the 19th ICCE and produce its final
report based upon the feedback from consultations. The report will be
to the IUPAC Bureau enabling it to determine its role and strategy on
public understanding of science and to engage with other scientific
unions, ICSU and other stakeholders to agree on overarching strategy
and associated activities.

Progress:June 2005 - Members of the task group have prepared a report
after meeting for three days in May, 2005 in Edmonton to review IUPACs
role, survey the literature, and prepare this report.